Bin structure



G, F. WOLFE BIN STRUCTURE Jan. 15, 1935.

Filed Oct. 23, 195-3 Ig. 1T

lNVENTOR Patented Jan. 15, 1935 BIN STRUCTURE George P. Wolfe, Edgeworth, Pa; ass'ignor to The- Dravo Contracting Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania.

7 Application October 23,; 1933, Serial No. 694,766

5 Claims. (01. 204.2)

This invention relates to bins for the storageand delivery of materials in bulk, and finds pin tical application in bins for the components of concrete mixes,--that is to say, cement and as A "recent change in the specifications of thev United States Government engineers, covering the mixing ofconcrete, requires that, in placeof a mixture consisting ofcement, sand, and gravel in proper proportions, the gravel content be sub: divided, and that definite. quantities of each subdivision be used. This changev in specification necessitates the. provision, at the place where the batch is. compounded, of additional bins, to con tain the gravel of, various. grades to be. specified. For instance, it may now be necessary to provide in all three gravel bins; one. for gravel of an inch to 1, inch in size; one for gravel from. 1 to 3 inches; and a thirdfor gravel above 3 inches.

The invention consists in, amultiplebin structure, adapted to meet the necessities imposed by the change in specification alluded to, a str cture that lends itself to service conditions, so that it may be filledand emptied with greatest ease; and a structure that compacts the total quantity of material in a space of minimum lateral extent. In consequence, the structure is of peculiar serviceability where tipping stresses are advantageously kept small: for example, in bin structures mounted on floating supports.

The accompanying drawing is diagrammatic; but it sufiices to illustrate the'invention. Fig. I is a view of a bin structure embodying the invention, in plan from above; Fig. II is a view in vertical section, on the plane indicated by the line II--II, Fig. I; Figs. III and IV are views in horizontal section, on the planes indicated at III-III and IV-IV, Fig. II.

The structure includes a central vertically standing bin 1 of columnar form, and, more specifically, of the convenient and preferred cylindrical form shown. Surrounding the central columnar bin is additional bin space that issubdivided by radially extending partition walls 2 into a plurality of bins 3. The bins 3 are disposed in annular arrangement around bin 1. The number of the partition Walls 2, and consequently the number of the bins 3 may be such as conditions render advantageous or necessary. Typically I here show the number to be four. The outer confining wall 30 of the bins 3 is shown to be cylindrical, and that shape is preferred. Manifestly it may be po1ygonal-square, if desired.

The central columnar bin 1 is provided with an upwardlytapering extension 4; and this extension correspondingly afiords for the lateral segmental,

bins 3 upwardly flaring extensions. Ilhe central bin is designed to receive and contain. cemenh.

Cement will be. charged into the bin through apipe' or pipes, as is usual, so there is no need for a.

charging hopper; but sand and gravel will be;

charged into the bins 3-by dumping in at thetop; and, accordingly, flaring mouths for these bins. are

advantageous. In Fig. II it appears that the central bin may at the peak of its upwardly taper ing. extension be provided with a suitably capped: manhole 5,. Such a provision, though not requie,

site, will ordinarily be found advantageous, since it affords ready access to the interior of the bin. Throu h the manhole 5, when provid d, a P pe may be introduced. for charging cement into;

1., A vent pipe 6 may be built into the structure;

leading from the central bin at its upper end.

throughthe surrounding bin assembly, to the open air. shown, into one of the radialpartitionsZ}: T1113,

vent pipe 6 serves for the passage. of air, incident to the pneumatic charging of bin 1 with cement, for cement is commonly handled pneumatically.

It, is manifest that, whether the central cement;

taining men and apparatus in the charging of these outer bins.

The outer segmental bins 3 are provided with downwardly tapering hoppers 8 that converge to closely set discharge orifices 9. These orifices 9 are provided as is usual with suitable gates. In consequence of their convergence these discharge This vent pipe will conveniently be built, as

orifices 9 lie within a region of small transverse extent, and discharge from any and from all of them may be effected into a single weigh batcher 10, arranged beneath.

The central cylindrical bin 1 also is provided with a downwardly tapering hopper 11, from which communication is open through a discharge chute 12, built conveniently, as is vent pipe 6, into one of the partition walls 2. The chute 12 slopes downwardly to an external point of discharge; it is provided at its lower end with a suitable gate; and a weigh batcher 13 is arranged to receive the cement delivered from the bin 1 through the chute. I

In operation the cement and the aggregate in its several grades are separately charged into the bins; and from the bins the components of-the concrete mix are severally delivered in quantities measured by weight. The aggregate in its several kinds and grades is delivered to a single weigh batcher. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that such delivery may be effected with greatest expedition. J

By arranging the store of cement in a columnar mass with the bodies of aggregate snugly surrounding it throughout its entire cross-sectional periphery, with only the necessary minimum wall thickness between, the whole store ofmaterials is concentrated in a space of minimum lateral extent. In consequence, in such a situation as erectionof the bin structure upon a floating support (as often is requisite), unequal withdrawals of aggregate will have minimum disturbance in the canting of the support. Particularly is the bin arrangement advantageous where sand and gravel of various grades have to be stored in separate bins. In such case the concentric arrangement' is ofpgreatest value, both in compactness of the charging-hopper assembly, with its platforms (if any), and in reduction to a minimum a of the horizontal extent of the whole body of material.

While, manifestly, the bin structure may be built of any suitable material, it will ordinarily be built of sheet metal carried in a skeleton framework. In any case," open spaces of any considerable extent are eliminated, and wall-thickness may be reduced to a minimum. Ordinarily the cylindrical .wall of the central bin will constitute theinner wall of the surrounding bins, and the upward extension of the central bin will afford a hopperwall for the surrounding bins. In Fig. II

suitable support for the structure is diagram- .matically indicated by the dotted lines 14.

Intended primarily for the storage and delivery of the components of concrete mixes, the bin structure of the invention is manifestly applicable in the storage in bulk of materials generally.

I claim as my invention: 1. A bin assembly for the storage of materials in bulk, including a central, vertically standing,

cylindrical bin, and a plurality of bins 'set in annular arrangement around the central bin, the

cylindrical wall of the central bin constituting the inner wall of the surrounding bins, the-central bin being provided with an upwardly tapering extension that affords for the surrounding bins an upwardly flaring hopper wall.

2. A-bin assembly for thestorage ,of materials inbulk, including a: central columnar bin and a plurality of bins set in annular arrangement around the central bin, the surrounding bins being separated by radially extending partition walls,

and a'vent pipe built into one of such partition -walls and leading from the central bin to the .open air. i a

3. A binassembly, includinga central columnar bin adapted to the storage of materials in bulk and a plurality ofibins set in annular arrangement around the. central bin, each of the bins set in such annular arrangement being adapted to the storage of'mat'eri'alsin bulk, the surrounding bins being provided with downwardly tapering extensions, theextensionsof the different surrounding bins converging to a region of discharge of small transverse extent, and the central columnar 'bin being provided with a discharge chute extending down wardly and laterallythrough the surrounding, binassembly to apoint'ofdischarge remote from the area of discharge of the surrounding bins.

A bin assembly for the'storage of materials in bulk, including a central-columnarbin-anda plurality of bins set in [annular arrangement around the central him-the surrounding bins being separated by radially extending partition walls, and a discharge chute built into one of such partition walls and leading from the central bin tension that aflordslvfor the surrounding binsan upwardly flaring hopper wall.

- GEORGE F. WOLFE.- 

